System and method for low level dimming

• US 9,066,381 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2012
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Integrated Illumination Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Integrated Illumination Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Valois, Charles Bernard, Zampini, Thomas Lawrence II
• Primary Examiner(s): Hernandez, William
• Application Number:
  US13/422,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20120249013A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 315/291, 315/360, 315/363
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/18 using temperature feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to an inexpensive yet intelligent solution for dimming light devices to low level intensities in which the common lighting systems generally have difficulties maintaining stability and flicker-free operation. The systems and method described herein enable a lighting system to utilize a dimmer to dim one or more lighting devices to low level intensities without introducing flickering or inconsistent operation of the lights. More specifically, the systems and methods described herein enable a dimmer to dim lights to anywhere between 0% and 5% of maximum brightness, while ensuring that the lights operate at these levels consistently, smoothly and without any visible flickering.

Claims

1. A method for manipulating levels of brightness for a lighting device, the method comprising:

(a) receiving, by an interface device, an input signal being transmitted to the lighting device, the input signal representing a first level of brightness;

(b) identifying, by the interface device, a digital value for the input signal, the digital value having a predetermined number of bits;

(c) generating, by the interface device, a truncated digital value by removing a portion of bits from the digital value;

(d) mapping, by the interface device, the truncated digital value to a non-truncated digital value having the predetermined number of bits and that represents a second level of brightness; and

(e) transmitting, by the interface device, a second signal representing the non-truncated digital value as the input signal to be transmitted to the lighting device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprising determining, by the interface device, that the input signal is dimmed.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprising receiving, by the interface device, the input signal via one of the following types of signals:

pulse width modulation signal, a one-wire signal, a dimming protocol signal, and a wireless protocol.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface device comprises one of the following:

a controller, a chip, a component for a printed circuit board, a switch of the lighting device or a triac dimmer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the lighting device comprises one of a Lighting Emitting Diode (LED) fixture or LED driver.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) further comprising mapping by the interface device, the truncated digital value to the non-truncated digital value based on a temperature reading from a temperature sensor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) further comprising mapping by the interface device, the truncated digital value to the non-truncated digital value based on a sensor reading from an area sensor.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) further comprising mapping by the interface device, the truncated digital value to the non-truncated digital value based on data stored in memory, the data comprising information on history of operation of the interface device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein step (e) further comprising transmitting, by the interface device, the non-truncated digital value via one of the following types of output signals:

pulse width modulation signal, logic level signal, a serial stream and a ramp signal.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein step (e) further comprising transmitting, by the interface device, the non-truncated digital value to a regulator that adjusts an intensity level to an LED or LED driver based on a level set by the non-truncated digital value.

11. A system for manipulating levels of brightness for a lighting device, the system comprising:

an interface device receiving an input signal being transmitted to the lighting device and identifies a digital value for the input signal, the input signal representing a first level of brightness, the digital value having a predetermined number of bits;

a truncator of the interface device generating a truncated digital value by removing a portion of bits from the digital value and mapping the truncated digital value to a non-truncated digital value having the predetermined number of bits and that represents a second level of brightness; and

wherein the interface device transmits, a second signal representing the non-truncated digital value as the input signal to be transmitted to the lighting device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the interface device determines that the input signal is dimmed.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the interface device receives the input signal via one of the following types of signals:

pulse width modulation signal, a one-wire signal, a dimming protocol signal, and a wireless protocol.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the interface device comprises one of the following:

a controller, a chip, a component for a printed circuit board, a switch of the lighting device or a triac dimmer.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the lighting device comprises one of a Lighting Emitting Diode (LED) fixture or LED driver.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the truncator maps the truncated digital value to the non-truncated digital value based on a temperature reading from a temperature sensor.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the truncator maps the truncated digital value to the non-truncated digital value based on a sensor reading from an area sensor.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the truncator maps the truncated digital value to the non-truncated digital value based on data stored in memory, the data comprising information on history of operation of the interface device.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the interface device transmits the non-truncated digital value via one of the following types of output signals:

pulse width modulation signal, logic level signal, a serial stream and a ramp signal.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the interface device transmits the non-truncated digital value to a regulator that adjusts an intensity level to an LED or LED driver based on a level set by the non-truncated digital value.